Geographical segregation and IL-6: a marker of chronic inflammation in older adults

• Published in: Biomarkers in medicine Vol. 2; no. 4; pp. 335 - 348
• Main Authors: Purser, Jama L, Kuchibhatla, Maragatha N, Miranda, Marie L, Blazer, Dan G, Cohen, Harvey J, Fillenbaum, Gerda G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Future Medicine Ltd 01.08.2008
• Subjects: Aging; Biological markers; Biomarkers; Chronic illnesses; Cytokines; elderly; Environmental health; environmental impact; Gerontology; Health aspects; health risk; Health risk assessment; Health sciences; Health services; Human subjects; IL-6; Inflammation; inflammatory marker; longitudinal study; Older people; Physiological aspects; Risk factors; Segregation; Studies; United States
• ISSN: 1752-0363; 1752-0371; 1752-0371
• DOI: 10.2217/17520363.2.4.335

To examine environmental sociodemographic risks of high IL-6, a marker of chronic inflammation in older adults. We spatially linked 1990 USA Census tract demographic and economic measures to a prospective cohort study of representative community residents aged  71  years and older, from over  1700 of whom a cytokine protein and biological marker of chronic inflammation, IL-6, was collected. Using generalized interactive mixed models, we modeled 1989-–1990 individual and census level risk factors for the dependent variable high IL-6 between 1992-–1993 (high IL-6  =  upper quartile: >2.96  pg/ml). After individual health risk adjustment, IL-6 remained elevated in communities with greater densities of poor older adults (odd ratio [OR]: 1.25 per 10% increase in exposure, 95% confidence interval [CI]:  1.05, 1.48) and in racially segregated communities (OR: 1.14 per 10% increase in exposure, 95% CI:  1.04, 1.25).  Socially disadvantaged environments may influence IL-6, a biomarker of age-associated inflammation.